Slug-casting machine



May 23, 1939. G. P. KINGSBURY SLUG-CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l IIIHMW INVENTOA BY May 1939 G. P. KINGSBURY 2,159,274

SLUG-CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mix- 14M.

May 23, 1939. G. P. KINGSBURY SLUG-CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 mg n w r v w INVENTOR :1 TT R/VEJ'I y 3, 1939. G. P. KINGSBURY 2,159,274

SLUG-CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 14 T RNEVJ Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF lCE SLUG-CAST ING MACHINE,

tion of New York Application February 2, 1938, Serial No. 188,223

20 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as those of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532 to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices 5 are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then composed in line, the composed line transferred to a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which descends from its line receiving position to present the line before the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with-molten metal to form a slug or type bar against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, the transporter elevated to a line transfer position Where the matrices are transferred from the transporter to a distributing mechanism which returns them to the magazine from which they started, and the transporter finally lowered to its line receiving position.

In such machines, the transporter, as it descends from its line receiving position, is arrested at one or another of difierent levels depending on the size of the characters borne by the matrices in the composed line, and irrespective of the level at which the transporter is so arrested,

the upper faces of the lower inner ears on the matrices are positioned slightly below the level of an aligning lip on the face of the mold.

Thereafter, the mold is moved forward to press the front face thereof against the composed line, and then the transporter is urged upwardly to press the matrix ears against the mold lip to bring about the customary face alignment of the matrix characters with the mold slot.

The vertical movements of the transporter are efiected by a cam on the main drive shaft of the machine, and to enable the same active portion of the cam to bring about the slight upward movement of the transporter during the matrix aligning operation, the train of connections leading from the cam to the transporter includes a connecting link embodying a compression spring which yields when the ears on the matrices engage the mold lip.

Inasmuch, however, as the same active portion of the cam brings about the slight upward matrix aligning movement of the transporter from all of the levels at which it may be arrested, it (the transporter) tends to rise to the same common m level in all cases. In consequence, when the transporter is urged upwardly from its lowermost level and its ascent arrested by the engagement of the matrix ears with the mold lip positioned slightly above that level, the compression spring 55 is subjected to a greater degree of compression than it is when the transporter is urged upwardly from a higher level and its ascent arrested by the engagementof the matrix ears withthe mold lip positioned slightly above that higher level.

This variation in the, compression of the spring isopen to the objection that, when the spring is made sufiiciently strong to insure proper alignment of the matrix characters when the transporter is urged upwardly from its uppermost level, the pressure exerted between the matrix ears and the mold lip when the transporter is urged upwardly from its lowermost level sometimes causes undue wear and damage to the ears. And, conversely, when the spring is made only strong enough to insure proper alignment of the matrix characters without undue wear and damage on the matrix ears when the transporter is urged upwardly from its lowermost level, it sometimes fails to exert the pressure necessary to bring about the proper alignment of the matrix characters when the transporter is urged upwardly from its uppermost level, this being particularly true after the machine has been in use over an extended period.

The present invention contemplates an arrangement whereby substantially the same pres sure is exerted between the ears on the matrices and an aligning lip on the mold irrespective of thelevel from which the transporter is urged upwardly for aligning purposes; and to this end,

means are provided which operate automatically to maintain the compression of the spring at substantially the same value during the aligning operation. More specifically, means are provided for automatically maintaining the length of the connecting link normal when the transporter is arrested at its lowermost level and for automatically increasing the effective length of the connecting link when the transporter is arrested at a higher level, such increase being substantially equal to the distance between the lowermost level and said higher level. Under these conditions, when the transporter is urged upwardly from either level, the compression spring is subjected to the same pressure, which i may be so regulated as to insure proper alignment without undue wear or damage to the ears of the matrices.

As before stated, the transporter, after the slug or type bar has been cast, is elevated by the cam to a line transfer position, and to insure that the transporter is not lifted beyond this position when the effective length of thelink is increased, means are also provided for restoring the link to its normal effective length before efiective the transporter reaches its line transfer position.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is shown merely by way of example and in preferred form. Obviously, however, many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit, and it is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a slug casting machine equipped with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the compression spring link interposed in the train of connections leading from the control cam to the line transporter or first elevator;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the transporter or first elevator with the spring pressure control mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, showing the position assumed by the connecting link when the transporter is arrested at its intermediate casting level;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the position assumed by the connecting link when the transporter is arrested at its uppermost casting level;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the means employed for operating the spring pressure control mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, in section, taken along the line '!'I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view, partly in section, showing the relationship between a composed line of matrices and the mold prior to a slug casting operation; and

Fig. 9 is a side view, partly in section, showing the position assumed by the connecting link when the transporter is arrested at its lowermost casting level.

After composition, a line of matrices l is delivered to the line transporter or first elevator H which descends to position it before a casting slot I2 of a mold l3 carried by a rotatable mold disk l4.

As usual, the mold disk I4 is provided with a number of molds (usually four) to enable slugs bearing characters of different point sizes to be cast, and it is adapted to be manually adjustable so that any one of the molds may be brought into action to the exclusion of the others. In Fig. 8, there is shown a mold of the kind adapted to cast slugs bearing characters up to 36 pt., which mold is provided with two superposed aligning lips l and I6 whose lower faces are spaced predetermined distances from the so-called constant line I! of the mold. The lower lip I5 is used to align the characters on the matrices with the mold slot 12 when the mold is adjusted for matrices bearing characters between 5 pt. and 14 pt., and the upper lip I6 is utilized to align the characters on the matrices with the mold slot I2 when the mold is adjusted for matrices bearing characters between 14 pt. and 36 pt. Molds adapted to cast slugs from matrices bearing characters above 36 pt. are provided with a single aligning lip corresponding to the upper lip it but made thinner, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, so that its lower face will be spaced a predetermined. lesser distancev from the constant line J1 of the mold than the lower face of the lip l6.

In casting slugs from matrices bearing characters from'14 pt. to 36 pt., the transporter II as it descends to position the composed line before the mold slot I2 is arrested at an intermediate level, as determined by the direct engagement of an arresting pin carried thereby with the top face of an interponent 2l pivotally mounted on the top of the stationary vise frame 23; and at this intermediate level, the upper faces of the lower inner ears 24 on the matrices are slightly below the lower face of the upper aligning lip 16 on the mold, all as is shown by full lines in Fig. 8. In the event, however, the matrices bear characters from 5 pt. to 14 pt., the interponent 2| is swung out of the way and the transporter ll descends to its lowermost level, as determined by the direct engagement of the arresting pin 20 with the top face of the vise frame 23; and at this lowermost level, the upper faces of the lower inner ears 24 on the matrices would be positioned slightly below the level of the lower face of the lower aligning lip IE on the mold. On the other hand, when the matrices in the line bear characters above 36 pt., a second (supplemental) interponent 22 is swung into operative position above the main interponent 7 2 I, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, to arrest the descent of thetransporter l l at its uppermost level, as determined by the direct engagement of the arresting pin 20 with the top face of the upper interponent 22; and at this uppermost level, the 5 upper faces of the lower inner ears 24 on the matrices are positioned slightly below the level of the lower face of the thinner aligning lip on the mold selected for such larger matrices. If more detailed information is desired about this feature of arresting the transporter II at different levels, reference may be had to the pending application of Richard R. Mead, Serial No. 161,253, filed August 27, 1937, or to the U. S. Patent No. 1,595,947 granted to D. S. Kennedy.

After the transporter II has been arrested at one or another of its casting levels, the mold disk I4 is advanced to press the front face of the mold I3 against the composed line of matrices Ill, and the transporter I l is then urged upwardly to press the matrix ears 24 up against the corresponding mold lip to bring about the customary face alignment of the matrix characters with the mold slot l2. Then the mold slot is filled with molten metal to form the type bar or slug against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon. Thereafter, the mold disk I 4 is moved back to its rotating position, and the upward pressure on the transporter I l is released to break the engagement between the matrix ears and the mold lip,

provided with a hub portion 21 in which a pivot pin 28 is journaled. The upper eye member 29 of a connecting link 30 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 28, and the lower eye member 3| thereof is pivotally mounted on a stud 32 carried by the forward end of a fore-and-aft lever 33.

At its rear end, the fore-and-aft lever 33 is pivotally mounted .on a rod 34 carried by the main frame of the machine, and is provided with an upstanding arm 35 The upper end of the arm 35 is provided with a roller stud 31 contacted by a set screw 35 carried by a lug 38 projecting forwardly from the central portion of a vertically disposed lever 35. The lever 39 is also pivotally mounted on the rod 34 and is provided at its upper end with a roller d maintained by the weight of the transporter in contact with the periphery of the cam 25. As the cam rotates in the direction of the arrow during the normal operation of the machine, a portion imparts a slight upward movement to the transporter during the matrix aligning operation through the train of connections just described.

The connecting link (Fig. 2) comprises a vertically disposed cylinder ll having a gland 32 screwed into the lower end thereof and a somewhat similar gland l3 screwed into the upper end thereof. The upper gland i? is provided with a centrally disposed nut portion d l threaded to a stud 65 carried by the upper eye member 29. The lower gland member G2 is provided with a centrally disposed opening, and a threaded stud 4'! carried by the lower eye member 3! extends upwardly in free fashion through the opening and into the cylinder 45, where it is threaded to a collar 48 which, while free to move upwardly and downwardly within the cylinder, is held against rotation by a key l9. A compression spring 55 is positioned in the cylinder ll between the upper face of the collar 58 and the lower face of the upper gland 33. By adjusting the position of the lower gland 42 and the superimposed collar 58, minor adjustments in the strength of the spring may be effected; and to lock the parts after adjustment has been made, the lower eye member 3| is provided with a leaf spring which is adapted and arranged to engage one of a number of spaced notches 5i cut in the lower gland 42.

As the outer end of the fore-ancl-aft lever 33 moves upwardly under the influence of the portion 25 of the cam 25, the transporter l l is raised to carry the ears 24 on the matrices into engagement with an aligning lip on the mold in use, and as the ears engage the lip, the spring yields and is compressed, but when compressed it exerts the required pressure between the ears and the lip to effect the necessary aligning operation.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to maintain the spring pressure thus exerted between the matrix cars 24 and the mold lip substantially the same irrespective of the level at which the transporter H is arrested. As shown more clearly in Figs. 4, 5, and 9, the opening 55 in the upper eye member 29, through which the pivot pin 23 passes, is elongated in a vertical direction. In addition, the upper eye member 29 is provided with a vertical recess 57 to accommodate a toothed locking pawl 59 made fast to the pivot pin 28 and which is adapted and arranged to engage a correspondingly toothed portion 58 of the eye member. A small pull spring 65, connected at one end to a collar 6i secured to the pivot pin 28 and at its other end to the transporter H, tends to rock the pin forwardly and hold the pawl 59 resiliently against the front wall of the recess 5'! (see Fig. 9). The pivot pin 28 is also provided with a depending actuating arm 52, which is arranged to be operated by an arm 54 rising from a small hori- Zontal rock shaft 63, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The rock shaft 53 is journaled in a bearing bracket 55 secured to the lower portion of the inner face of the cam plate or slug lever device W carried by the transporter H. In a manner subsequently to be described, a crank arm 61, depending from the rock shaft 63, is adapted and arranged to be operated by a long lever 68 pivotally secured to the vise frame 23. This lever 68 is in turn operated by the forward movement of the mold disk [4 against the action of a spring 46 through a horizontal push rod l5 slidably mounted in a cylinder 'H carried by a bracket I2 which is fastened to the vise frame 23. The push rod 10 acts through a compression spring 13 which yields in the event of any undue resistance in the operation of the parts to prevent damage thereof.

The operation of the parts will now be clear: When the transporter H is allowed to descend to its lowermost level, as determined by the direct engagement of the pin 20 with the top face of the vise frame 23, the pivot pin 28 which connects the upper end of the link 30 to the lower end of the transporter H is positioned at the bottom of the elongated opening 56 in the upper eye membring about the face alignment of the characters I on the matrices with the mold slot l2. As the matrix ears 24 engage the mold lip I5, the spring 55 is compressed and exerts the desired aligning pressure.

In the event, however, that the transporter ll L-' is arrested at its intermediate casting level, as determined by the direct engagement of the pin 20 with the top face of the lower main interponent 2!, the pivot pin 28 becomes positioned midway of the elongated opening 56 in the upper I eye member as shown in detail in Fig. 4, and the crank arm 61 becomes positioned behind the lower end of the long operating lever 68 as shown in Fig. 3. Then as the mold disk l4 moves forwardly, the lower end of the operating lever 68 is rocked rearwardly and so rotates the rock shaft 63. As the rock shaft 63 rotates, the arm 64 rising therefrom engages the actuating arm 62 and rotates the pivot pin 28 in the opposite direction to carry the pawl 59 forwardly against the action of the spring into engagement with the toothed portion 58 to lock the pivot pin in its aforesaid midway position to the upper eye mem ber 29, as shown in Fig. 4. Under these conditions, the effective length of the link 38 is automatically increased a distance equal to the thickness of the lower interponent 2|, or, in other words, to the distance between the lowermost and the intermediate arresting levels of the transporter. In consequence, as the transporter H is urged upwardly from the intermediate level to press the matrix ears 24 against the upper aligning lip I6 on the mold, the spring 55 is subjected to substantially the same degree of compression that it was when the transporter II was elevated from its lowermost level to align the matrices against the lower mold lip 15.

As the mold disk I 4 moves backwardly, after the casting operation, the long operating lever 68 is rocked back to its initial position by the spring 46 and the pawl 59 is pulled out of engagement with the toothed portion 58 by the spring 68.

The disengagement of the pawl 59 from the toothed portion 58 permits the pivot pin 28 to pass to the lower end of the elongated opening 56 Then, as the mold disk l4 as the transporter is raised to its upper line transfer position, and since under these conditions the effective length of the link 30 is restored to normal, the transporter comes to rest in its normal line transfer position.

If now a mold adapted to cast slugs bearing characters above 36 pt. is brought into operative position, and the descent of the transporter is arrested at its uppermost level as determined by the direct engagement of the arresting pin with the top face of the upper supplemental interponent 22, the pivot pin 28 travels to the top of the elongated opening 55 in the upper eye member 29 and the crank arm 61 becomes positioned behind the lower end of the long operating lever 68, although at a slightly higher level. Then as the mold disk l4 moves forwardly and before the cam acts to raise the transporter II for aligning purposes, the pivot pin 28 is rotated as above described to carry the pawl 59 into engagement with the toothed portion 58 to lock the pivot pin 28 in its top position to the upper eye member 29, as shown in Fig. 5. Under these conditions, the effective length of the connecting link 30 is automatically increased a distance equal to the combined thickness of both interponents 2! and 22, or, in other words, to the distance between the lowermost and the uppermost levels at which the transporter may be arrested. Thereafter, when the transporter ll rises to press the matrix ears 24 against the aligning lip on the mold, the spring is subjected to substantially the same degree of compression that it was when the transporter H was elevated from either its lowermost or intermediate level in the two preceding instances.

As in the case where the transporter ll was raised from its intermediate level, the long operating lever 68 is returned to its initial position and the pawl 59 pulled out of engagement with the toothed portion 58 as the mold disk M moves backwardly after the slug casting operation, permitting the pivot pin 28 to run back to the lower end of the elongated opening 56 in the upper eye member 29 as the transporter ascends to its upper transfer position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, means for thereafter subjecting the transporter to pressure to eifect the alignment of the characters on the matrices with the mold slot, and means for maintaining the pressure to which the transporter is subjected at substantially the same value irrespective of the level at which the descent of the transporter is arrested, 7

2. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, compressible means for urging the transporter upwardly to align the characters on the matrices with the mold slot, and means for maintaining the compression in said means at substantially the same value irrespective of the level from which said transporter is urged upwardly. l

3. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam controlled lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, and means for maintaining the pressure exerted by the lever on the transporter during the aligning operation at substantially the same value irrespective of the level from which the transporter is urged upwardly.

4. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam controlled lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to eifect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a resilient connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, and means for maintaining the pressure exerted by the lever through the link on the transporter during the aligning operation at substantially the same value irrespective of the level from which the transporter is urged upwardly.

5. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam controlled lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a compression spring interposed between the lever and the transporter, and means for maintaining the compression in the spring during the aligning operation at substantially the same value irrespective of the level from which the transporter is urged upwardly.

6. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam controlled lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a connecting link having a compression spring interposed between the lever and the transporter,

and means for maintaining the pressure exerted 1:,

by the lever through the spring on the transporter at substantially the same value irrespective of the level from which the transporter is urged upwardly.

7. In a slug casting machine, the combinatransporter, and means for automatically ad- I justing the effective length of the link to accord with the level at which the descent of the elevator is arrested.

8. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from .any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a connecting link between the lever and the transporter, means for automatically adjusting the effective length of the .link to accord with the level at which the descent of the elevator is arrested, and means for maintaining said link locked in its adjusted position during the aligning operation.

9. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the elevator at one or another of different casting levels, a cam controlled lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a yieldable connecting link between the lever and the transporter, and means for so adjusting the effective length of the link that the yield therein during the aligning operation is substantially the same irrespective of the level at which the descent of the elevator is arrested.

10. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a spring-locked connecting link between the lever and the transporter, and means for so adjusting the length of the link that the yield in the spring during the aligning operation is substantially the same irrespective of the level from which the transporter is urged upwardly.

11. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to eifect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, an intermediate connecting link capable of movement relatively to the transporter, and means for locking the link to the transporter prior to the aligning operation.

12. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot. a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, and a pawl adapted to so regulate the effective length of the link that the pressure exerted by the lever through the link on the transporter is substantially the same irrespective of the level from which the transporter is urged upwardly.

13. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting thedescent of the elevator at one or another of different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to eifect alignment of the characters with the moldslot, a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter,

means for permitting relative movement between the link and the transporter when the descent of the transporter is arrested, and means for preventing relative movement between the transporter and the link during the aligning operation.

14. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or aonther of three different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any of said levels to effect alignment of the character with the mold slot, a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, means for permitting relative movement between the transporter and the link when the transporter is arrested at either of the two upper levels, and means for preventing relative movement between the transporter and the link as the transporter is urged upwardly during the aligning operation from either of the two upper levels.

15. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a evertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of three different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, means for permitting relative movement between the transporter and the link when the transporter is arrested at either of its two upper levels, and means for locking the transporter to the link before the aligning operation and for unlocking the transporter from the link after the aligning operation.

16. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at any one of three different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, means for permitting relative movement between the transporter and the link when the descent of the transporter is arrested at either of the two upper levels, and means responsive to a periodically moving element of the machine for locking and unlocking the transporter to the link before and after the transporter is urged upwardly from either of the two upper levels.

17. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold disk having a slotted mold, a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of the mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at any one of three casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, means for permitting relative movement between the transporter and the link when the descent of the transporter is arrested at either of the two upper levels, and means responsive to the operation of the mold vdisk for locking the transporter to the link before the transporter is urged upwardly from either of the two upper levels.

18. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold disk having a slotted mold, a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of the mold, means for arresting the descent of the transporter at one or another of three different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from any one of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold slot, a connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, means for permitting relative movement between the transporter and the link when the descent of the transporter is arrested at either of the two upper levels, and yielding means responsive to the operation of the mold disk for locking the transporter to the link before thetransporter is urged upwardly from either of the two upper levels.

19. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the elevator at one or another of two diiferent casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from either of said levels to effect alignment of the'characters with the mold slot, a spring- :.i

loaded connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, and means for increasing the effective length of the link while maintaining the spring pressure at substantially the same value when the descent of the transporter is arrested at its upper level to an extent substantially equal to the distance between the two levels.

20. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of character bearing matrices before the face of a slotted mold, means for arresting the descent of the elevator at one or another of two different casting levels, a cam operated lever for urging the transporter upwardly from either of said levels to effect alignment of the characters with the mold solt, a springloaded connecting link interposed between the lever and the transporter, and means for increasing the effective length of the link while maintaining the spring pressure at substantially the same value when the descent of the transporter is arrested at its upper level to an extent substantially equal to thedistance between the two levels during the aligning operation and for restoring the link to its normal effective length before the line transfer operation.

GEORGE P. KINGSBURY. 

